"Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops, like bishops, and your religious act like religious." - Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, 1972

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Whenever someone sends me a copy of the drivel over on "the other blog", I hesitate to do anything with it. It is not just that their postings are a general assault on intelligence, the authors of the "other blog" are faustian in their ambition to remake the church in their own image and to even entertain them makes me sick.

It is not just that the authors at "the other blog" are uninformed. Quite the opposite. They are very informed - and informed by the sort of twisted logistical machinations of Screwtape who instructs Wormwood on how to seduce his "patient" into hell:

"Jargon, not argument, is your best ally in keeping him from the Church", advises Screwtape to Wormwood. And one has only to listen to the long ramblings of a Kiko, a Pius, or a Diana to know how thoroughly they subscribe to this diabolic advice.

Thank you to those who attended my talks today at the Men's Conference, and thank you to those who invited me. While titled on the program as a talk on "Theology of the Body", I retitled it "How to turn your marriage into a path to heaven instead of road to hell." In the talk I shared how the teachings of John Paul II were incorporated into my own marriage and the raising of my family.

Friday, January 30, 2015

Archbishop Apuron has got to love you. You have just blown his cover. You know, I was wrong about you Diana. Until now, I thought you were on "their" side. Now, I see that you are on ours. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have admitted what the archbishop would NEVER admit.

ARCHBISHOP ANTHONY S. APURON: You and ALL on the Hill Are Going Down!!!

You did your little dig at me two days ago by having someone call in on the Jess Lujan show. Your No-Name little person did quite an amateurish job in trying to discredit me. (I thought I did that well all on my own.) My belief has always been that people will themselves choose what to believe and what not to believe. So, it will always be in their hands. I had responded to the Jess Lujan Show and also to the Ray Gibson Show. Your "little person" asserted:

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Effective yesterday, 26 January 2015, I no longer serve as "Coordinator" of Ministers in charge of scheduling nor will I be serving as Minister of the Word or Extra-ordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

One wonders why, after a private meeting with the pope only a few weeks previously, AAA and his neo-boboy presbyters feel they have to compete with Filipinos on the streets of Manila to see the pope?

So now we know the rest of the story. A few days ago we posted a picture of Edivaldo leaning into the papal vehicle apparently giving the pope something to read. Knowing that things went rather badly for the Archbishop and the future of the NCW here on Guam during the apostolic visit, we can guess that what Edivaldo handed the pope was an urgent request for an appointment. In any event, we know that AAA and the boboys were desperate to get themselves in front of the pope, even though they had just had a private audience a few weeks before.

In addition to the unsigned garbage dump of a so-called internal review inserted into the U Matuna, Msgr. David C. Quitugua, Vicar General and Rector of the Cathedral Basilica had his own "internal review" distributed at all the Masses this past weekend, bashing Msgr. James all the more.

In his piece of crap letter, Msgr. David C. Quitugua accuses Msgr. James of leaving over $400,000 in unpaid bills.

Well, Msgr. David, even if that were true, you owe the people of Guam far more than that. In fact, not only do you owe the Archdiocese of Agana 44 Million Dollars, you owe us all an apology, and once you've done that, you owe us your absence for the rest of your silly little life.

True, I had promised the visitors I would not call Archbishop Apuron a liar. So I will let you do that after you read this.

We have already noted the absolute insanity of Archbishop Apuron's latest public garbage dump on Msgr. James. The abuse is beyond description. Sadly, the real harm is not to Msgr. James. He's a man and he'll deal with it. The real harm is to the church and the thousands of Catholic faithful who are horribly scandalized by the sight of a bishop beating his priest in public.

Imagine your father taking your brother out into the street and beating him publicly for some act of disobedience. The shame does not just accrue to the sibling who is beaten, but to the whole family. This is what Archbishop Apuron is doing, and now that we have had a visit from Rome, we have to assume that he is doing this with the permission of the Vatican unless they act otherwise. I know that this is not true, but we have to assume that this is what others are thinking, many others.

My apologies. Sorry to bother you again so soon. I know you are now aware of the very unbecoming behavior of our archbishop, as this weekend, he again publicly smeared Msgr. James Benavente by including a copy of an internal review and a list of accusations with this Sunday's archdiocesan newspaper.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

How sad that we cannot go to our Catholic Mass without being "witnessed" to by Iglesia ni Cristo as we exit, and they are there at the order of our own bishop. Very sad. Very sad. Feel bad for those kids. Here is the direct link if you are not able to view the video below: https://vimeo.com/117692828 P.S. it's not really an Iglesia group. It's the neo. Doesn't matter. Different church.

Who is Tim Rohr? Tim Rohr is a lay person with ZERO power. Tim Rohr does not have access to a pulpit each week. Tim Rohr does not have control of a whole newspaper. Tim Rohr cannot hire and fire priests. Tim Rohr cannot ordain or not ordain. Tim Rohr cannot decide who can be baptized or confirmed or who can receive any of the sacraments. Tim Rohr cannot use his position and other people's money to publicly trash priests. Tim Rohr cannot give away millions of dollars. Tim Rohr cannot give away archdiocesan property.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Faithful Catholics gather outside the Santa Ana chapel tonight in Agat to pray the rosary while a neocatechumenal community celebrates their eucharist. A group of Agat faithful raised the money over several years of bake sales and other fund raisers to build the chapel. They have only been permitted to have Mass at the chapel once a month on the first Saturday of the month. The neocatechumenal community is permitted to hold their eucharist there every week as well as a weekly "celebration of the word".

In the same spirit of investigation with which Msgr. James Benavente was investigated by Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron, the undersigned members of the Archdiocese of Agana request the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples to investigate Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron and provide the people of this archdiocese with answers to the following. Until we receive these answers we will NOT contribute a single penny to any collection of any sort.

Where does he get the money for his many travels?

What are the costs of his travels?

Where does he stay?

Who does he stay with?

How much does he spend on meals when he travels

Where does he eat?

Which credit card(s) does he use?

Who pays those credit card bills?

What is the amount of his salary that we are paying him?

What is the value of his many benefits?

Who pays the utility bills at his private residence in Mangilao?

Who stays there?

How long do they stay?

Is their stay in any way paid for by archdiocesan funds?

How much does the archbishop collect for fiestas, Mass stipends, and other "favors"?

How much cash has he received from the Korean lady and does he report it?

How much of our regular Sunday collection is routed through the chancery and to RMS?

Who selects these men to come to Guam for RMS?

How are they selected?

Are they psychologically and academically screened?

By who?

Where is the certificate of the Blessed Diego Institute's affiliation with the Lateran?

Where is the academic handbook for Blessed Diego?

Where is the list of the current faculty?

What are the exact number of credit hours required for graduation from the institute?

Where is the record of these credit hours from each supposed graduate?

Who selects these men for ordination and what is the criteria?

Why is Archbishop Apuron's personal name listed on the Board of Guarantors for RMS instead of Archbishop of Agana so that the position will automatically be inherited by his successor?

Why is Archbishop Apuron's personal name on so many properties that supposedly belong to the Archdiocese of Agana?

What is the relationship between Archbishop Apuron and Sang Feng Construction?

How much money has been given to Archbishop Apuron over the last 20 years by Kamalin Karidat, either for his personal use or for a cause other than what Kamalin Karidat is constituted to serve?

Lastly, we also hereby demand that Archbishop Apuron sign an affidavit stating that he NEVER improperly touched or solicited any sort of sexual interaction with another person either as a priest or a bishop.

Signed,

FED UP in the Archdiocese of Agana

P.S. We apologize about the public nature of this request. However, the recent discovery that the letter with the charges against Msgr. James Benavente is also an insert in this weekends archdiocesan newspaper, demands that we respond publicly and immediately. We request your urgent action and we will do whatever we can to assist you.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "DEAR ARCHBISHOP SAVIO HON TAI-FAI. MISSON FAIL.":Yeah your scum! Have a great day. Make sure put make up when you go to the media and check your nostril for any hair and snot sticking out. LOL!

Apuron sneaks out the back door
in order to avoid Catholics praying
the rosary in the front.

Dear Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai,

It appears your trip here to promote reconciliation has been to no effect. As expected Archbishop Apuron is continuing his campaign to publicly trash a priest-son, Msgr. James Benavente. As expected, Archbishop Apuron, has compiled a new list of trash against Msgr. James and is circulating it amongst his neo-friends.

Dear Archbishop Savio, what sort of a bishop is Apuron?

What sort of a father prefers to publicly trash a son? Regardless of the charges, and they are all the same charges that have already been publicly discredited, just with new numbers, why isn't Archbishop Apuron dealing with his issues with Msgr. James in private?

Why is Archbishop Apuron bent on scandalizing, discrediting, and publicly trashing a priest-son? Does he not know that this not only hurts Msgr. James but the WHOLE CHURCH? What father publicly humiliates his son...and with glee?

But here's the kicker, Archbishop Savio. Whatever mishandling of monies Msgr. James may or may not be responsible for, NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING compares with Archbishop Apuron's mega-million dollar property scam and the even bigger scam of its cover up and his spitting upon the former president of the AFC.

Friday, January 23, 2015

None of what is happening now would have befallen AAA if I had not endeavored to make public and to keep public his ongoing transgressions against certain members of the clergy, many lay members of the diocese, liturgical norms and the legitimate magisterium of the Church, and now, his sneaky mega-million dollar deal with the Gennarini's and RMS.

Yeah right sent to you.... I know you have a crush with Diana and you check her blog every second. Pathetic.

Here is my reply to "pathetic":

Poor children of the neocatechumenal way. Can't engage my points so they attack me instead. Used to it though. And thanks for that. Every attack on me personally creates more supporters for our side because they see what your tree really produces: rotten fruit.

This was copied and sent to me. It appears to be Zoltan's comment on Sue's blog (aka Diana).

Zoltan December 29, 2014 at 2:18 PM

Let's have a look at the objectives of Concerned Catholics about the Neocatechumenal Way:

"Review the practices of the NeoCatechumenal Way to determine if they are in compliance with their statutes and the precepts of the Roman Catholic Church."This single objective reveals ill will rather than good will at the bottom of the intention of Concerned Catholics. This group has never been assigned or trusted with the task of determination that solely belongs to official Church bodies. Therefore this objective of Concerned Catholics is an obvious attempt to usurp the authority of the Catholic Church.

Also, this objective is an interference with the faith life of members of the Neocatechumenal Way and thus is considered unfriendly. If Concerned Catholics truly want to have a dialogue with the Way, then they'd do better to distance themselves from the savage attitude of the JungleWatch blog and refrain from interfering with the Way's faith life.

Zoltan is right. Neither the CCOG or any other organization or person is officially authorized by the Church to police the Neocatechumenal Way. And had the neocats stayed in their communities and out of our Masses and our children's catechetical instruction, they might still be very well left alone.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

There have been fights over the cremation issue with some neo-pastors. Apparently, some, if not all neo-pastors (sad that we even have to distinguish like this) have been said to refuse a Funeral Mass in the presence of cremated remains, forcing grieving families to call around to find a parish and a pastor who will celebrate the Funeral Mass for their deceased and cremated loved one. This has added to the division in our diocese.

In the face of such diverse practices and opinions - varying from pastor to pastor, and in the absence of clear instruction from the chancery, we should be aware of the following:

So we can now piece things together. We were suspicious of everything from the beginning.

AAA's unannounced visit to the pope on Nov. 21.

The "surprise" announcement that we would be paid a visit from Rome only three weeks later. The chancery's "very happy" framing of the visit.

The surprise AAA was obviously not expecting when he went to greet the visitors and met three of our own government officials already there awaiting the visitors as well.

The absolute stacking of pro-Neo or pro-Apuron people for all the appointment slots (which is why they wanted to keep the schedule from us and why AAA went nuts when he found out that we had a copy of the schedule - blaming everyone from people inside the chancery to the visitors themselves.)

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

I'm unsure how the cited article in the GIRM suggests that concelebration shouldn't be the norm when there are multiple priests present. Perhaps a little more elaboration on the comment: "Concelebrations are not to be done willy-nilly". In fact, the overall sentiment of Sacrosanctum Concilium, from which the GIRM is derived, was one oriented away from the so-called "private masses" (I know this pertains to the congregation [or lack thereof], but it was duly unheard of to have two priests celebrating one mass prior to the council). All things considered, Msgr. Quitugua is the pastor of the Cathedral parish, and therefore, has a "canonical right" to be present and responsible for all liturgies at the parish. Obviously, I'm not in agreement with the lay testimonies during Holy Mass, but we should be careful about the way we approach particulars, and in this case, the worthiness of concelebration when there are multiple priests present.

It is interesting that you claim Msgr. Quitugua to be the “pastor”, when in fact his not being the “pastor” was the reason AAA felt he could quickly dismiss Msgr. James without regard to canonical prescripts for the removal of pastors. Pastors have certain rights, rectors do not. If Msgr. David is now suddenly the pastor then Msgr. James must be restored to his position of “pastor” - since he was removed without regard to said prescripts.

Both the GIRM and Canon Law permit concelebration when there are multiple priests present - especially since they are not simply permitted to sit with the congregation (as AAA himself did not long ago - sitting with his community) - however, there were not “multiple priests present”. Msgr. David was there NOT to be “present and responsible” for the liturgy, but to be present and responsible to be sure that the Neo’s had their time. This was obvious to all, and another example of the abuse both of respect for certain law and the people. In fact, given the ulterior motive for his presence at the Mass, perhaps even the Mass itself was abused. But that would comport with the Neo MO, for which everything is their plaything and the GIRM is only “a book of suggestions”. Those are their words - and in fact, Msgr. David was the one credited (by the Dianas) for such an interpretation.

This is bunch of crap Gabe and no offense to your vocation, but you're full of hypocrisy. I remember you growing up and you were hardly an active parishioner of the Agana Cathedral - if you were one at all. Clearly, you're not only confused but disillusioned. Instead you were an active member of the AGANA (NEO) COMMUNITY at the Agana Cathedral, not an active member of the parish. And your Pius/European accent -- PLEASE GET REAL! We walked together Gabe and I'm still proud of your vocation, but please don't mislead people. Just be true to yourself and just by listening to this - you aren't being you. You know it. Remember when we went to play the COLOR GAME after the Archbishop scolded our community about gambling several years ago? Just be true Gabe. Be true. I'll see you this weekend. Don't worry too much about this anonymous comment. I couldn't stand being close to you but yet you would mislead people. That's what's getting to me.

The above is a picture of a lay person giving a testimony during the time reserved for the homily last February.
She was personally invited to the pulpit by Archbishop Apuron whose homily was little more than another ad for the Neocatechumenal Way.

Cathedral. Jan 18, 2015. 7:30AM Mass.

Fr. Tom McGrath was the main celebrant. He was joined by Msgr. Quitugua, the VG. NCW testimonies were given at the end of Mass and before the final blessing. (Apparently this was also the case at the Saturday, 6:30pm Mass. Fr. Tom celebrant, Msgr. David concelebrant.)

The report only says that Fr. Tom was "joined" by Msgr. Quitugua. If Msgr. Quitugua was on the altar during Mass then we must assume that he was concelebrating with Fr. Tom. We must first ask why was Msgr. Quitugua concelebrating with Fr. Tom? We know why. Msgr. Quitugua was there to make sure that the Neo-ad would get in. He had to be sure that Fr. Tom would not forget, or horrors, actually obey the authority of the church and let the neos do their ad AFTER Mass. Well as we know, we can't have good priests like Fr. Tom actually just obeying Rome all on their own. So Msgr. David, the Vicar General, the priest whose office to which the laws of the church are uniquely entrusted, had to be there to make sure the laws of the church relative to announcements at Mass were BROKEN since no one would probably stick around after Mass for the neo-plug.

Monday, January 19, 2015

While I was not a plumber, several years ago I did have a chemical supply company and one of my customers was RMS. Part of the service was maintaing the dispensers which were hooked up to the kitchen plumbing.

A person not really knowing my business but knowing that I was the person to call when something needed tending to in the kitchen would have thought of me as a plumber. And she was the one who always called me to come and fix a problem.

This would also comport with "Diana's" obvious difficulty with wording things, being ESL. Don't worry, mam. It will be our little secret. I just feel sorry for you.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

This is a good opportunity. For once we see in one place everything "the other side" thinks of me. Of course the only reason they think of me at all is not because of me but because of what I do. And because what I do (tell the truth) is a grave danger to the lie they live (which is why they yet cower behind a pseudonym) the very survival of the myth they live depends on their ability to discredit me. I have no problem with that. Try all you want, but at least do it with the some facts. So here, let me help you.

Let's look closer. It appears the man in the dark suit behind what appears to be Edi is blocking someone whose hand is outstretched. In order for Edi to get that close to the pope (if it's him) he had to have been with Apuron who would have had access and could have petitioned security to let him through. What a shame though. The pope goes to the Philippines to be amongst the poorest of the poor and all these clowns can do is plot how they can get a photo-op. What a bunch of freaks. And they want US to join their "invitation to joy"? Why? So we can be a bunch of self-obsessed imbeciles like them?

I took down Edi's playboy pose but may have acted to soon. My legal friends told me that should Edi sue me it could be a grand opportunity.

First, I would have nothing to worry about from Guam law because it only relates to images which are "illegally intercepted", which was not the case. He posted it. Someone shared it. Someone shared it again. And then someone sent it to me. That's how the internet works.

In fact, the image that was sent to me did not have the faces smudged. Out of respect for the girls in the image I had the faces smudged. Amazingly, the "Diana's" (which includes Edi himself) posted the pic on their blog with the faces not smudged.

Friday, January 16, 2015

"Watch for men, they will say anything to get you and then they will treat you like an orange. They will suck all the sweet juice out of you and when there is no more juice left and you are dry they will spit you out and throw you away."

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Pope Francis will be welcomed in this Catholic heartland on Thursday by a Filipino cardinal who might one day succeed him: a boyish-looking priest who rode the bus as a bishop and has impressed many with his intellect, humble life and compassion for the poor.

Some have suggested a "dialogue" of proportions much larger than what I had in mind. My offer is personally to Ms. Benavente, a private chat about our views, simply a personal sharing. Perhaps there is something I am missing. My compassion for those in the Neocatechumenal Way, and who are being unduly damaged by the consequences of the actions of its aggressive leadership has been largely formed by many such chats with people in the NCW, which is why I try to separate them from the leadership and the militant "kiko's. I do not believe that a "great debate" would be fruitful. One to one. The offer is open to anyone. I will make time.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Guam is not the only island under the purview of Giuseppe Gennarini, the chief Neocatechumenal catechist for the United States. Mr. Gennarini’s influence, as it turns out, extends to another island territory on the other side of the globe, the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) in the British West Indies.

MB: A local TV show, "The Buzz," recently featured the new organization Concerned Catholics Inc. Comments rooted in misinformation about the Neocathecumenal (sic) Way were made by Greg Perez, the guest, and Jesse Lujan, the host...A written reply is insufficient to address these and other one-sided remarks as they can easily be misinterpreted.

TR: Dear Ms. Benavente, why then write a letter to the PDN? Why not request to go on the same show that Mr. Perez was on? I'm sure Mr. Lujan will be accommodating.

MB: I, too, am a concerned, practicing Catholic. I am involved in the Way, a charism approved by the Catholic Church since 2004.

TR: Dear Ms. Benavente, the Statute of the Neocatechumenal Way received final approval from Rome in 2008. It was not "a charism" that was approved, but a "final rule". Nowhere in the document is the word "charism" used in relation to the Way. The word "charism" is only used twice and both only in relation to the charisms of bishops and priests and in the context of their authority over the Way. (Art 5. §2., Footnote No. 37).

Reposting because I understand there was a small ruckus at the Rev & Tax licensing branch yesterday regarding RMS. Maybe they were scrambling to get this taken care of? Trouble is RMS appears to have three names on file. One and two is okay, but there doesn't seem to be anything for the third.

The Redemptoris Mater House of Formation, Archdiocese of Agana (which is the corporation name)

The Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary of Guam (which is the DBA)

• Many thanks for the recent donations to support the blog. As a thank you to everyone who has supported the blog I would like to send you complimentary hard copies of both of my books, Target equals Priest and Why I Am Catholic. If I don't have your mailing address I will be contacting you. If you happen to already have copies, feel free to give them away. Again, thank you.

• Yesterday, we passed 1.9 million. Pageviews continue to average nearly 10,000 per day, with the most recent highest day being January 5 with 14,970 hits.

• Tim Rohr will be on THE BUZZ with Jesse Lujan, tonight, 6:30pm on KUAM.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Today, January 13, is the feast day of SAINT HILARY OF POITIERS Bishop and Doctor of the Church (c. 315-c. 367) He is a saint especially relevant to our present struggle. Sadly, too many people despair about the divisions in our local church. But divisions have always existed and error has always had to be fought against. During the period of the Arian heresy, there were more bishops who were Arian than Catholic, though they considered themselves Catholic. But the true Church has always persevered because of great saints like Saint Hilary of Poitiers.

From Butler's Lives of the Saints.

13 January SAINT HILARY OF POITIERS Bishop and Doctor of the Church (c. 315-c. 367)

St. Hilary was a native of Poitiers in Aquitaine. Born and educated a pagan, it was not till near middle age that he embraced Christianity, moved thereto mainly by the idea of God presented to him in the Holy Scriptures. He soon converted his wife and daughter, and separated himself rigidly from all un-Catholic company.

To anon at 9.18 and 9.54, in Apuron's defense, it must be noted that while it is obvious that he has that issue, nothing happens in a vacuum. For anybody to feel so untouchable that he would feel confidant to actually make these remarks in public and with such violence, a person must have a sense of vindication that re enforce the primary feeling.

We know only of one person at the chancery, or to be more exact in the Archbishop's close proximity, who has that kind of violent and perverse background.

That would be the Archbishop's special handler and NCW big boss on Guam, Pius. The man of the shadows, the Maltese with heavy and murky connections with Sicilians and Calabreses where these kinds of feeling are out in the open and very prevalent.

On November 22, 2011, ARCHBISHOP OF AGANA, A CORPORATION SOLE, ANTHONY SABLAN APURON, OFM. CAP., DD., INCUMBENT assigned perpetual use and control of the property on which THE REDEMPTORIS MATER ARCHDIOCESAN MISSIONARY SEMINARY is situated to THE REDEMPTORIS MATER HOUSE OF FORMATION, A GUAM NON-PROFIT CORPORATION.

There have been many questions as to whether this act was illegal under Guam Law, and if it is, would the faithful of the Archdiocese of Agana have standing to sue for its return if not also for fraud.

I find it puzzling to see Saint John Paul II celebrating the Neo Eucharist and even allowing the very things we are fighting against here at home (most especially allowing everyone to consume the Eucharist at the same time). What do you have to say about this? Was Saint John Paul II a Neo Supporter and is that a bad thing?

*****

Thank you for bringing this up. I have answered this many times before as it is the reference people like the Dianas, either out of ignorance or a will to deceive, like to shove in our faces.

It is both sadly and terribly evident by what was on the front page of the U Matuna yesterday, that our church leaders either have NO intention of reconciling or that they are completely, utterly, and hopelessly inept, or worse, simply being clandestinely managed by someone else.

How to make sense of all the talk about reconciliation and peace in the context of the apostolic visit. and then to print, on the same page, that discredited defense of the seminary, when in fact, the debate over the seminary is one of the central issues that precipitated the visit in the first place?

Archbishop Apuron must always be held responsible for whatever is officially printed or said in the name of the archdiocese. But I think in this case, the real culprit is someone else. And her name is listed on page 2.

And so it is clear that the chancery is entrenched in this message and is prepared to play this charade no matter the evidence presented. The fact is the assignment has been executed and recorded already. What options, if any, does the Catholic community have now to undo the damage? If it will require a civil suit, then where do we begin? If title belongs the archdiocese and the archdiocese is a corporation sole, then presumably no other person or entity has standing to bring suit or demonstrate tort. Not a lawyer but logic follows that as an individual, I can assign or sell or deed property that I own without restriction. You can't sue me for selling my property just because you don't like the buyer...can you?

Not trying to be a nay sayer but if something can be done, can someone who knows about these issues recommend the proper course of action? My gut feeling is that if something can be done, some kind of technical restraining order should be requested immediately. This rhetoric from the chancery seems like a bid to buy time. If Apuron's already in hot water with Rome, what's to stop him from executing a deed of conveyance to the RMS before he's replaced? Or is this already a lost cause?

What can we do? What can we do? In fact, these are questions I have been hearing for more than two decades. Archbishop Apuron has always appeared to be untouchable, even by Rome.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Note: In the spirit of the recent Apostolic Visit and the pursuit of "reconciliation" I am not going to use the words lie or liar. I will simply present the facts.

In today's U Matuna, with the Apostolic Visit hardly over, the chancery has set forth a front page article entitled "Setting the record straight: Redemptoris Mater Seminary." The article reprints the chancery's responses to questions posed by KUAM news. The questions were initiated over the recent discovery of a Deed Restriction and a DECREE OF DESIGNATION, restricting the the use of the former Accion Hotel property solely for the "perpetual use" by RMS.

Let us review each question and answer in detail:

1. Is it true the Archbishop Apuron made a declaration of deed for the Redemptoris Mater Seminary against the advice of the Finance Council in 2011?

ANSWER. No, things are the other way around. The previous Archdiocesan Finance Council wanted to alienate the property where the Seminary and the Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores Catholic Theological Institute are hosted. The Finance Council at that time in fact had the intention to sell the property to cover the debt incurred by the Cathedral and the Catholic Cemeteries.

I don't know exactly how this will play out, but given the absence of an immediately condemnable crime, Archbishop Apuron will probably be given a list of things to do to show good faith on his part for an attempt at reconciliation - as the Apostolic Visit was said to have as its objective.

My guess is that there will be an attempt at making up with the lesser level "offenders", e.g. Fr. Efren, Deacon Steve, etc., but we probably won't see any attempt at reconciliation with Fr. Paul or Msgr. James.

That's too bad. Anything less than restoring Fr. Paul and Msgr. James to their positions constitutes a reconciliation charade.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Mary Lou Garcia-PeredaJanuary 10, 2015 at 11:35 AM...They might also consider ways to promote awareness of and belief in The Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. One simple way is to restore the use of the bells at the Elevation of the Host and Chalice during the Consecration. I once asked a priest why the bells were no longer used and was told "We don't want people to think one part of the Mass is more important than the other parts." Guess what? That part of the Mass when Jesus become Truly Present on the altar IS more important! Fool that I was, I accepted the word of that priest.